I’ve been so busy this week! I barely have time to check my email, let alone blog. My friend Scott over at the fabulous Find a Death site featured a recording of what he thinks might be Edith Head yesterday on his site. I thought she would make an interesting post, since she was so connected to the movie industry. If you haven’t checked out his site, head over there and tell him I sent you! In the meantime, here is some info on Ms. Head:
Edith Head was born in 1897 and died in 1981. She was and is still probably the most well-known costume designer in Hollywood history. Edith was the first woman to be in charge head of a motion picture studio costume department. Edith Posener was born on October 28, 1897 in San Bernardino, California. She went to Los Angeles High School. She graduated from University of California at Berkley and then she got a master’s degree in French from Stanford University in California.
In 1923 she started teaching French and art at the Hollywood School for Girls. While she was teaching French, the Principal asked her to teach an art class, so she decided to get fashion and art training, where she discovered her true passion. She met and married Charles Head while she studied art. She got a job in the costume department at Paramount Studio. Edith and Charles divorced in 1938, the same she became head of the costume department at Paramount. Edith’s career was more than 60 years long. In that time she earned 8 Oscars and 35 Oscar nominations. Edith Head worked on over 1,100 films! In 1940 she married Bill Ihnen. They lived in the San Fernando Valley in California. Edith designed costumes for some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Edith Head died on October 24, 1981.
Check out the photos of her. Wasn’t she fabulous?
I loved the parody of Edith done in “The Incredibles.”
She was The Best! I never saw a design of hers that I didn’t like!
Thanks so much for visiting & leaving a comment – I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier – the computer died yet again (the Blue Screen Of Death and a massive memory dump) so I’ve been out of action a few days.
She seems fab.
Do you know, i wonder if they based Edna from The Incredibles on her!!
Congratulations! I just picked you for an award! You are linked through one of my posts. I like your blog very much. Keep up the great bloggin’. xoxo a-vintage-vixen
There is something about her that I find incredibly enchanting!! 🙂
Awesome! Thanks for the history lesson!
She sounds like a fabulous lady, thanks for sharing.
I had never heard of Edith before but wow, what a great post! xoxo
I LOVE Edith Head’s work! She has been an interest of mine for a while! Wonderful entry!
She must have been an awesome person to know!! =)
Melanie’s Randomness
She truly was a fashion force to be reckoned with. In an era before every star (and starlet) and their handbag pup had a stylist, Edith worked tirelessly throughout her career to help shape the on (and off) screen looks of legions of vintage icons. She was such a tremendously interesting person, thank you for featuring the unmatchable Edith Head.
Wishing you a beautiful Wednesday & festively fantastic December ahead!
♥ Jessica
What a legend!! 35 Oscar nominations??!! Wow. She had a lot of style!
XO,
Jane
She was so utterly FABULOUS! Such a legend in costume design and just a super cool lady in general. Great post, girlie!
I LOVE Edith Head!!!! (can you tell I am a big fan??!!) Truly a divine genius!! On my way to check out Scott’s blog!